What is a father-in-law in a marriage?

This entry describes a father-in-law as the father of one's spouse, and lists where his place is usually felt: money, housing, authority in a shared household, and a silence that still counts as a decision. It notes that a father-in-law can shape a marriage without raising his voice, and that the spouse whose father is involved is part of the arrangement.

What this entry does not do

It does not stereotype fathers-in-law, and it does not replace the entry on setting limits with in-laws.